Gold jumps 2% as Fed Governor's comments temper rate hike bets

Gold prices surged over 2% on Thursday as traders adjusted their expectations for a September rate hike in light of comments from Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller. The precious metal climbed 2.3% to reach $4,488.54 per ounce, its highest level since August 28. Waller suggested that if incoming data indicated inflation pressures were easing, he would advocate for maintaining interest rates steady at the next Federal Reserve meeting.

Consequently, market participants now consider a 54% probability of a rate increase at the September 15-16 policy meeting, a drop from the previous 62% chance. Bob Haberkorn, a senior market strategist at StoneX, noted that traders are increasingly perceiving that the Fed may not be as aggressive with rate hikes as initially anticipated.

This shift in sentiment, coupled with falling Treasury yields and a weaker US dollar, bolstered gold's appeal as a non-yielding asset. Investors now closely monitor the upcoming US non-farm payrolls report and subsequent inflation data, including the August CPI and PPI reports. Meanwhile, oil prices continued their upward trajectory for a fourth consecutive day, driven by concerns over potential supply disruptions in the Middle East following US strikes on Iran and Israel's renewed threats against Tehran.

Silver prices also rose 2.8% to $67.13, platinum increased by 4.2% to $1,830.28, and palladium climbed 5.9% to $1,426.75.